ESG roundup day 2 -- Pine Bush grad wins steeplechase

Saturday

Jul 26, 2008 at 2:00 AM

Nicole Rozario did not want to run the scholastic women's steeplechase at the Empire State Games — she's already graduated from high school and wanted to compete in the longer open race, but she was too young for that division.

KEN McMILLAN

Nicole Rozario did not want to run the scholastic women's steeplechase at the Empire State Games — she's already graduated from high school and wanted to compete in the longer open race, but she was too young for that division.

The Pine Bush standout made her final appearance at 2,000 meters memorable by setting the Games record in 7 minutes, 6.77 seconds on a pleasant Friday afternoon at Binghamton University's track complex.

"It felt good," she said of her accomplishment. "It's just the Empires, but it felt good."

Rozario, 17, jumped out to the early lead and said she felt good during the race, though she had no idea what pace she was on. "I was just running," she said. "I was making sure I would stay in front."

Rozario posted a 6:50 during the high school season. Bound for the University of South Florida, all of her future steeplechase events will be run at 3,000 meters. She will run the scholastic 1,500 on Saturday.

Track and field

Alex Reid of Middletown placed third in the open men's 110 hurdles (15.05). Former state high school champ Julian Remouns of Washingtonville was fifth in the triple jump.

In the open women's meet, Middletown's Daira Veloz was fourth in the 100 hurdles (16.45) and Natasha Dudar of New Paltz was fifth in the long jump.

For the scholastic women, Toni Werner of Pine Bush was fourth in the 100 hurdles.

Wrestling

Kingston's Darren Mima made a late surge in the third period but lost his open freestyle gold-medal match at 128 pounds to New York's Peter Morales.

Mitch Wightman of Warwick pinned Western's Clay Beeb in the second period of their 154-pound scholastic bronze medal match. Steve Butler of Cuddebackville swept two periods from Central's Noah Sibley in their 220-pound bronze-medal match.

Swimming

Alan Roberts of Middletown won the open men's 100-meter breaststroke (1:09.34). Christian Muller of Walden was fourth. Ripley Danner of Saugerties was second (2:18.44) in the 200 individual medley. Danner and Culver won silver (8:29.16) on the 800 freestyle relay.

In scholastic women, Colleen Larkin of Campbell Hall was second (5:20.92) in the 400 IM, and won gold with the 400 medley relay (4:43.03). For the scholastic men, Alex Loli of Middletown was second (1:04.74) and Colton Roe of Middletown was third (1:05.84) in the 100 backstroke. Loli and Tyler Gennarelli of Middletown earned silver with the 400 medley relay. Luis Galan was fifth in the 400 IM.

Hudson Valley (2-2) won both of its games on Friday to remain in medal contention.

Hudson Valley (2-2) split its two games on Friday, beating New York and losing to Long Island, both by 3-0 scores.

The open men (1-1) pulled into a 51-51 tie early in the second half but went on to lose to New York 84-76. Ryan Schneider of Marist College scored 15 points. The open women (1-0) played Adirondack late Friday night.

All the Hudson Valley teams moved to 1-1. The open women got goals from Nicolle Burke and Rachel Silverman in a 2-1 win over Western (the Western team later withdrew from the tourney due to a lack of healthy players).

Matt Daum of New Paltz scored again for the open men, but Central responded with three second-half goals and a 3-1 victory.

Amy Marron set up goals for Melinda Sefick and Leanne Benson as the scholastic women toppled Western, 2-1.

The scholastic men erased a 2-0 deficit and beat Western 4-3, on goals from Darwin Gramajo, Sean Noonan, Jake Keegan and Joshua Maley.

The Valley women (1-1) posted a rare ESG victory, using first-period goals from Samantha Pucci and Josephine Pucci in a 2-1 triumph over Central.

The Valley men (1-1) gave up three goals in the final period in a 4-2 loss to Western. Zac Hiller and Chester's Connor Leen, off a pass from Highland's Chris Cerbino, scored for the Valley.

Hudson Valley (3-0) nearly squandered a 3-0 lead, holding on to beat Central 4-2. Rondout Valley's Erin Koonz scored off a corner with seven minutes to play to give the Valley some breathing room. The Valley followed with a 3-0 win over Adirondack. Charlote Gardiner, Megan Bozek and Cathleen Smith scored. A gold-medal preview is on tap Saturday when the Valley plays Long Island.

In the 10,000 runs, Roy Zeeb (40-44) of Kingston won in 38:49.2; Gilbert Anderson (50-54) of Highland won in 41:56.2; and, Norman Goluskin (65-69) of New Paltz won in 45:01.0. Edwin Diaz (40-44) of Middletown was fourth.

In the 10-kilometer racewalks, Peter Wells (60-64) of Ulster Park and Edoardo Sorrenti (65-69) of Greenwood Lake won gold. Leo Amari (65-69) was fourth. In Thursday's 5K events, Wells was first, Amari was second and Sorrenti was third.

John DelPup of Chester was fourth in Thursday's cycling time trial (65-plus).